I Was Sick

I raised my camera only to lower it. “I cannot,” I sighed and shook my head. “I cannot intrude on this poor man’s grief or his child’s pain.”

“But you must,” insisted the doctor accompanying me through the hospital. “It is the only way people will know of our situation.”

I looked at the young, weary man, his eyes heavy with worry, holding his moaning, clearly in pain child. I pointed at the camera and then at him. “Okay?” I asked. He nodded his approval, so I took the picture.

In many developing countries, food is still cooked over an open flame in a fire pit, or on a cobbled together metal box. Earlier that day, his little son was playing on the dirt floor of their makeshift house, next to their improvised stove when one of the stones shifted, causing the grate to fall. A pot of boiling milk came falling down on the little boy, severely burning him on his head and upper body.

The father grabbed the toddler and carried him to the nearest hospital on foot, which took about two hours. Once he arrived at the hospital, he had to wait for hours because of the shortage of medical personnel and the many people ahead of him. The boy was eventually seen by over-worked, poorly equipped, but very dedicated doctors and nurses. They did the best they could, which was very little.CONSIDER the lack of intravenous solution or medicine in this situation. Gauze, bandages and other needed dressing materials were almost non-existent. There was nothing for the child’s excruciating pain; no antibiotic to combat the probable infection. I was told the boy would survive, but it would be a very painful recovery and he would be noticeably scarred for the rest of his life.

Matthew 25: Ministries provides help for these rural hospitals and the isolated regions they attempt to serve. On a continuing basis, we provides bandages, gauze, sutures, lotions and ointments, tape, rubber gloves, soap, antiseptic and other critically necessary items to these hospitals.